MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean ruling coalition senators condition approval of Unasur charter

Senator Jovino Novoa wants a “democratic clause” included in the charter.

Senators from Chile’s coalition junior partner announced they support the approval of the Unasur, Union of South American Nations charter previous compliance with several ‘basic conditions’.

Senators Jovino Novoa and Hernán Larrain from UDI said they would vote in favour of the charter and therefore Chile’s incorporation as long as the new grouping does not weaken the Organization of American States, OAS.

During a meeting with Foreign Affairs minister Alfredo Moreno they also demanded the charter includes a “democratic clause” ensuring and defending freedom and democracy in the continent.

“Two things are quite clear: Chile can’t be out of an organization that includes all of South America’s countries; the second is that the country can’t continue to validate organizations that “are useless”, said Senator Novoa, who also happens to be president of the Latinamerican parties union, UPLA.

He added that following the meeting with chancellor Moreno it was agreed that Chile’s incorporation to Unasur must have a clear purpose: “that concrete things for the development and well being of peoples are effectively achieved plus practical and urging issues such as energy, communications and natural resources integration”.

“Currently we believe Unasur is far from any of these goals”, but he admitted that the ratification of Chile could help push the organization in that direction.

“We don’t want any more rhetoric about democracy in the region: we want to see effective democracy in practice. And not only when a coup or a forced presidential ousting, but also when there are clearly detected democratic or institutional weaknesses that threaten a certain regime”, said Senator Larraín.

“We believe Unasur will have full validity and force when integration becomes a reality in such simple acts as the roads system, telecommunications connectivity, but also when there is full respect for democracy and institutions in the continent”, he added.

Finally the two Senators emphasized that the job of the Unasur Secretary General must be of full, exclusive dedication, which would mean that the current chair, former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner and his almost full time involvement in Argentine internal politics, makes him incompatible for such a responsibility.

Unasur is the brain child of Brazilian diplomacy created to basically limit US influence in regional political decisions.